YS GOLD 

This morning, Reb Yisroel Nachman Landau, z”l, a Yid known for his ehrlichkeit and Yiras Shomayim, was niftar following a devastating illness. He was 76 years of age, and had come to America from Antwerp for treatment. 

The niftar, was born on the 24th of Elul, 1950, to his father, the Reb Shmuel HaLevi Landau, a talmid of the Rabbi Yechiel Yehuda Buxbaum of Galanta, and a direct descendant—ben achar ben—of the Noda BiYehuda. His mother, Roiza, came from the city of Kaliv in Hungary, and her family merited to sew garments for the Rebbe Rav Yitzchak Isaac of Kaliv.

In his youth, he studied in the “Chug Chasam Sofer” cheder in Bnei Brak. Later, from his early education until bar mitzvah age, he studied in the Sanzer Yeshiva in Netanya under the Shefa Chaim. In his later years he learned in the Dushinsky Yeshiva, where he was close to the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, who cherished him greatly. His classmates recalled that he adhered strongly to his family’s traditions, both in davening, minhagim, and in the Shabbos melodies that he would sing. 

In his youth, he merited to be close to the great tzaddikim of Yerushalayim, especially the Chelkas Yehoshua of Biala, from whom he received personal guidance in avodas Hashem.

Upon reaching the age, he married his wife, the daughter of Rabbi Moshe Elimelech Borenstein, one of the prominent early residents of Kiryas Bobov in Bat Yam. After his marriage, he became a melamed of young children in the Sanzer cheder in Bnei Brak, shaping generations of talmidim and earning a reputation as an exceptional mechanech who instilled the foundations of Torah and avodas Hashem with great dedication into the hearts of his talmidim. 

Due to his expertise, he was invited to teach in Jewish communities abroad that needed skilled educators. After many requests, he moved with his family to Vienna, Austria, for about two years, where he taught students and trained additional melamdim.

After this period, at the request of Vizhnitz institutions in Antwerp, Belgium, he relocated there and taught for eight years. In Antwerp he became closely attached to the Rebbe Rabbi Yankele of Pshevorsk, who drew him close. Community members relate that he had many conversations with the Rebbe and even carried out confidential missions to strengthen Jewish life in Antwerp.

In 1991, he became close to Breslov Chassidus and adopted its teachings as his way of life, becoming deeply connected to the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and his disciple Rabbi Nosson, and encouraging others to study them. He would travel to Uman, especially for Rosh Hashanah and Shabbos Chanukah.

He often said: “Idleness leads to sin,” and lived by this principle, always seen with a sefer in hand, encouraging others to use their time wisely.

In his later years, he lived in Brachfeld (Modiin Illit), where he learned in kollel. He would leave early for Shacharis with a sandwich and return only in the evening after continuous learning.

In his final months, he became seriously ill and traveled to the United States for treatment. He merited to attend his granddaughter’s Sheva Brachos in Adar, after which he was hospitalized. Surrounded constantly by family and Breslover chassidim, he passed away peacefully, returning his soul to its Creator, leaving behind a beautiful Torah family. 

The levaya is taking place now in Shomrei Hadas (to watch it live, click here), and additional levayos will take place in Eretz Yisroel, after which the niftar will be laid to rest on the Pittsburger Chelka. 

Yehi zichro baruch.